“Bruv! Get your shit together and do the damn job. Many would give an arm and a leg to do what we are cajoling you to do. I mean, what is there to chop woman? Pesin dey run from enjoyment again? Guy, you dey dull o.”

"I..ii..get, but can it just be under the right circumstances?" Tade stammered

“What circumstance, bro? How right can the circumstance be? You are practically being served freshness on a platter, and you are shaking like a jellyfish. Abeg, this guy never ready. He will go screw up this shit for us.”

“Okay, okay, okay, I will do it, but you guys have to give me more than 48 hours. You know that Halimah is not dumb. If I start acting funny, she will figure things out and start avoiding me.” Tade said, trying to buy himself some time.

“You sef why will you act funny. Don’t you know how to be a smooth operator? You better start practicing because we won’t allow this mission to fail. Once we notice that you haven’t done all that we said you should do, we will go after her, and you know we will drive in mercilessly.” Tariq let out a loud, wicked laughter that sent shivers down Tade’s spine.

Tade was beginning to feel like he had become a misfit among his friends. He had known Jeremiah, Bartho, Tariq, and Omijie from his primary school days, but in the last couple of months he felt like they were overdoing things. He wondered if they had always been that way, or if it was him that was gradually becoming a softie. He was yet to figure out the answer to that equation but right now he was in a fix.

So, some back story...

The five boys lived in the same neighbourhood and attended the same primary school, after which they proceeded to the same secondary school. They were from middle-class families, well, apart from Tariq whose parents, though separated, seemed to have a lot of money to throw around. Anytime there was a big party in the neighbourhood, anyone could easily guess that the loud music was coming from Tariq’s father’s compound. Despite having luxury at his disposal, Tariq was levelheaded and focused on his academics throughout primary school. The five friends were frequent faces at the city library and never failed to top their class in a sequential order. The other parents were proud of the bond the boys had formed and so unanimously agreed to send them to the same private secondary school.

All was well until the boys entered SS2 and were split into different classes. Although they got to spend quality time together during breaktime and after school, they made new friends and picked up new hobbies.

There were a few behavioural changes Tade noticed, but they were of little significance, so he brushed them off.

Fast forward to a couple of years later, the boys were done with their WAEC and NECO exams and were preparing for the university entrance examination. Since they were young, their parents decided to enrol them in A-level classes to increase their chances of schooling abroad. Even though they were bright students, they had begun to relax due to the lull between when they finished their school exams and when universities were ready for the entrance exams.

It felt a bit odd that Tade was the only one from the group that attended the first day of orientation. The others said nothing important happens on the first day, so they passed on attending. Tade’s parents dropped him off themselves, so he didn’t have much of a choice, and as fate would have it, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

“Oh, my goodness, it seems we are late already. I don’t like it when I become the spotlight for a negative reason.”

Tade chuckled while trying to arrange himself before deciding what manoeuvre he would use to blend in with the other students. He raised his head to look at his partner in crime and was instantly blown away.

She was not the regular textbook fine girl, but she definitely had a twist to her features. For some strange reason, all the common flaws looked so good on her, from overripe pimple to slightly crooked incisor, and a semi-bowled leg. But man, she had a “bad” shape—it almost seemed like she was one of those video vixens that had undergone BBL. She wasn’t afraid to show her dentition even as two strands of her natural hair dangled down her cheek.

It took the tutor clearing his throat for Tade to come back to life. The duo quickly found some unoccupied seats at the back of the class, shuffled themselves into position, and began to listen to what was being said. In between, Tade summoned the courage to introduce himself. He really didn’t want to take any chances and risk his heart blaming him later on.

“I am Tade.”

“Halimah,” she responded in a strong northern accent.

“Oh wow, it seems you are not from around here. You sound kind of different.”

“Errmm, my parents just relocated to this state last month, so you can say I am a newbie.”

“Do you mind me having your number? I can be your first friend and teach you how to stay safe and be street smart in this town. We can also exchange academic ideas, but only if you are okay with it,” Tade said, sliding his phone close to her so she could put in her phone number.

Halimah’s smile said, "Guy, I know the drill." It seemed like Tade understood that look because he suddenly began to explain himself and how he really really meant no harm. He also tried to convince himself that he was a good boy and would not do anything she would not like. He wanted to gain her trust before she started seeing more people and making other friends.

Tade was also a bit stunned because, with her name and accent, he expected Halimah to be all covered with either a full or cape hijab and a flowing abaya or something. She had on blue cargo pants with a loosely fitted crop sweatshirt. The pants, which were ordinarily supposed to be baggy, hugged her hips and thighs. It was difficult for her solid frame to go unnoticed—not too much but just enough flesh in the right places.

It seemed like he was making some headway because not only did she type her number, but she saved her name with her favourite emoji and went ahead to dial it so she could also have his number.

Since the orientation was on a Friday, Tade took advantage of the weekend to ‘love bomb’ Halimah. It was nonstop calls, text messages, chats, and sending of stickers. The moment he learnt that she lived three streets away from him, it was all over. He begged her to come out for ice cream, and luckily her parents allowed her to go on an evening stroll that made the ice cream date come to life. Tade was convinced that he had won jackpot. He loved how he was feeling and intended to keep it that way, but his plans became short-lived the moment his friends started hounding him.

Tariq was out of the country on vacation and only got back two weeks into their classes. He spent his first few days profiling their classmates and only noticed Halimah at the end of classes on the third day when she made small talk with Tade before she left the class.

“Dayummm! Who is that piece of meat?” Tariq asked without taking his eyes off Halimah.

“Guy, have some respect. Why would you call her that?” Tade said.

“That’s exactly what she is, and I am going to eat all of her.”

"Errmm, Tariq, you can’t do that. Tade is clearly into her. You know, bro code?” Omijie said.

Tariq looked around and laughed.

“Let’s place a bet on that ass friends.”

“What! Tariq, please act like a normal human being. How can you place a bet on this kind of thing? Respect the bro code and respect yourself. I saw Halimah first; we became friends, and you have seen that I am really into her, so why are you hell bent on creating problems where there is none?”

“My guy Tade, you know I have always wondered what these girls see in you. I have been watching your tracks since primary school, and for some reason girls always tend to like you even though you don’t have any charisma. Yes, I have been pained, and now that I understand how these things work, I am going to get all the girls I want before you reach them. I know I’ve got game,” Tariq said, re-scrutinising his drip.

“Wow, wow, brothers, I am so down for this kind of game. It’s showtime, baby... T versus T,” Bartho supplied.

“This is crazy, guys. Count me out. I am not going to play games with an entire human being. She is my friend. For crying out loud she is new in town, why would I want to create a bad impression instead of being a genuine friend?”

“Awwwwnn, so touching, Tade. In fact, let’s raise the stakes. The first person to kiss her will have her.”

“This is ridiculous, Tariq. I am not doing this with you.”

“Then you forfeit her, Tade. It’s as simple as ABC, but I am sure you don’t understand that since it seems you have the idea that both of you will fall in love and grow old together... hahahahahaha…You are so naïve. All girls want is a good time down there. Anyone who has game can literally be a king.”

“Wow...that was below the belt, Tariq Ouch. I love me some good drama,” Jeremiah said.

“I will not cave, Tariq. I won’t roll in the mud with you. Gosh, who have you been hanging with, and when did you become this way?”

“I have been hanging with real men, men who have actual balls. Oh, you won’t? Then watch me.”

Tariq whistled as he looked around the class to find where Halimah was sitting before walking up to her.

“Hey baby girl, your body is like a stallion, and it’s driving me crazy.”

He placed his right hand on her breast and planted a kiss on her cheek, but before he could settle in, she pushed him away and gave him a resounding slap.

The other boys stood in shock as other members of their class who were present laughed while Tariq took his walk of shame. When he eventually got to where his friends were standing, his eyes were red with fury.

“Tade, I give you 48 hours to redeem yourself before I do what is on my mind. I need you to have sex with her and bring evidence so that I can back down. With this kind of humiliation, I will make her pay by doing it myself, but I am giving you a fighting chance since you say you like her.”

“What the hell, Tariq, have you gone mad?”

“You will know if I have gone mad when I bring her bloodstained pant as a souvenir for you.”

“Hmmm, this is getting more interesting than I have imagined. Tade, you know you should do this, right? You don’t want your lady to feel the wrath of a bruised man, do you?” Bartho added.

“True Tade. I think Tariq is being very considerate with the episode we all just witnessed. If you really like her, you will take this peace offering.” Omijie concurred.

“Peace offering? Are you guys for real right now? With someone’s life? What is she is a virgin? What am I saying? She is or should be a virgin. And why would I want to record it? What if it gets into the wrong hands? Heck, I don’t even trust you guys with such evidence with this behaviour you all are exhibiting. I am sorry, but I don’t think I can subject Halimah to such a traumatic experience. She will even end up hating me.”

“Guy, think this thing well o. Even me go like collect rounds o. So, imagine all four of us driving through her; the thought of it alone excites me. Like…” Jeremiah said.

“Stop, just stop. Okay, I will do it, but you guys will have to give me more than 48 hours. You know that Halimah is not dumb. If I start acting funny, she will figure things out and start avoiding me.” Tade said, trying to buy himself some time.

“You sef why will you act funny. Don’t you know how to be a smooth operator? You better start practicing because we won’t allow this mission to fail. Once we notice that you haven’t done all that we said you should do, we will go after her, and you know we will drive in mercilessly.” Tariq let out a loud, wicked laughter that sent shivers down Tade’s spine.

Tade was not thinking. A huge part of him was not considering sleeping with an innocent girl or anyone for that matter. Heck, he didn’t even know if he could have sex. He had not done it before, but he couldn’t let his friends know that. When did the others cross that threshold, he thought? He really didn’t know these guys anymore. One thing he knew for sure though was that Tariq never made empty threats, and he sure didn’t want Halimah to face Tariq’s wrath.

“Jeez, what do I do? I need to clear my head and think fast.